Scottish Water boost for bonnie banks
Scottish Water is to improve the environment on a key part of the country’s most famous loch.
A stretch of the western banks of Loch Lomond – one of Scotland’s most iconic tourist attractions - is set to benefit from a £2m project which is due to start in the next few days.
The project, which will last for about a year, will lead to a significant reduction in the amount of waste water spilled into watercourses which lead into the loch near the Duck Bay Hotel and Marina and will improve the quality of the waste water.
During the project, Scottish Water will connect seven properties in the area to our waste water system and provide a new collection system, pumping station, emergency overflow and Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO).This will transfer waste to the Ardoch Waste Water Treatment Works near Dumbarton.
At present the properties which are not connected to the system, six houses and a Scottish Youth Hostel Association hostel, use a number of privately-owned septic tanks, which drain into the loch.
Loch Lomond attracts about a million tourists a year and the area where the project will be carried out is among the most popular on its shorelines and so forms a key part of the local and national tourist industry. The loch, the largest freshwater loch in Scotland, is used on a daily basis for recreation purposes, including boating, fishing and swimming. Its waters are home to a variety of fish, including salmon, brown trout, pike and roach.
The project, which Scottish Water is developing in conjunction with the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, will be carried out by contractors GMJV.
They will use the thrust bore method to put in a rising main under the A82, which will involve the drilling of a small hole beneath the road.
Every effort will be made to reduce any inconvenience to customers, visitors and traffic but there will be some disruption at different stages of the work, including the construction of a small access road to the pumping station.
Scottish Water have met with local hotels, bed & breakfast proprietors and other affected people and businesses to discuss the planned work and timetable.
The programme will take cognisance of key events such as the Barclays Scottish Open golf tournament at Loch Lomond Golf Club from July 10-13, which is expected to attract tens of thousands of spectators to watch some of the world’s top golfers in action.
Chris Toop, Scottish Water’s regional customer operations manager, said: “Loch Lomond is arguably the most famous loch in the whole of Scotland and everyone knows how important it is to the country and our tourist industry.
“So Scottish Water’s investment is hugely important as it will substantially improve the environment in one of the most popular parts of the loch.
“The affected Scottish Water customers will benefit because they will be connected to the public system for the first time and will not have to maintain septic tanks. But more widely, those same residents, local businesses and tourists will benefit from the improvements to the environment because the area around the shore will be cleaner and more aesthetically pleasing which is great news for everyone.”
National Park Authority welcomes investment
Carron Tobin, Director of Strategy and Programmes at the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park Authority, welcomed Scottish Water’s investment and said:
"The National Park Authority is delighted that Scottish Water has launched this new scheme on the banks of Loch Lomond at one of our most popular visitor sites.
The environmental benefits from this investment will be considerable, not only for Scotland's most famous loch but also for the many visitors to Duck Bay and the local residents on the shores. We fully support and welcome the announcement."
“Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park Authority is committed to conserving the special qualities of this unique part of Scotland and welcomes any initiative that furthers the park's aims and supports the Scottish Government's Greener Scotland objective."
